Smart Greenhouses For Africa (SmartGFA)

在非洲，农业综合企业在减少贫困、提高粮食安全和推动经济增长方面的潜力超过任何其他部门。农业占非洲大陆国内生产总值的近一半，雇佣了60%的劳动力。SmartGFA项目旨在开发一种低成本的温室小气候监测和管理系统，该系统利用土壤传感器、气候和天气信息来优化特定作物的灌溉和环境条件。该系统分析土壤传感器提供的实时信息、从在线服务提供商获得的中期天气信息、基于历史天气模式的气候信息，并将这些信息与特定作物需求相结合，以确定最佳浇水模式——最大限度地提高作物健康和产量，同时将肥料和水的消耗降至最低。SmartGFA项目汇集了两个英国和三个肯尼亚合作伙伴，将先进的传感器技术、机器学习分析和当地需求知识结合起来，开发一个新的系统，使小农能够以低成本实现高产温室农业，增加他们的粮食安全，并使他们从自给农业转向经济作物

In Africa, agribusiness has the potential to reduce poverty, increase food security and drive economic growth more than any other sector. Agriculture accounts for nearly half of the continent’s gross domestic product and employs 60% of the labour force. The SmartGFA project aims to develop a low-cost greenhouse microclimate monitoring and management system that utilises soil sensors, climate and weather information to optimise irrigation and environmental conditions for specific crops. The system analyses real-time information provided by soil sensors, mid-term weather information obtained from on-line service providers, climate information based on historical weather patterns, and combines these with the specific crop needs to determine the optimal watering pattern – maximising crop health and yield, while keeping fertiliser and water consumption to a minimum. The SmartGFA project brings together two UK and three Kenyan partners to combine advanced sensor knowhow, machine-learning analytics and knowledge of local needs to develop a novel system that will allow smallholder farmers to achieve high-yield greenhouse farming at low cost, increasing their food security and allowing them to move from subsistence farming to cash crops